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Want a healthy weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes and gets the whole family excited to eat? These stir-fried ground chicken lettuce wraps are packed with vibrant flavors, satisfying textures, and just the right amount of sweetness from a simple homemade sauce. They have been a staple in my dinner rotation for years, and once you try them you’ll understand why.
The best part? Kids get excited to eat with their hands! How much fun is that?
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Low carb weeknight dinner: When you feel like you’ve been overdoing the carbs, these lettuce wraps hit the spot without ever feeling like a compromise.
- Under 30 minute Meal: Simple ingredients, one pan, and dinner is on the table fast. Want more quick stir fry recipes? Try my Shiitake Veggie Stir Fry, Ramen Noodle Stir Fry or Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry!
- Kids go crazy for it: So much of the art of getting kids to eat is making mealtime fun. Lettuce wraps are hands-on, interactive, and a whole new way for little ones to look at leafy greens.
- Perfect leftovers. I love eating the leftover stir fry filling straight from the bowl with a little perfectly cooked brown rice on the side. Simple, delicious, and leftovers are never wasted.
The Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these ground chicken lettuce wraps sing. Here are a few key ingredients:
- Ground Chicken or Turkey: These are completely interchangeable here. Both work beautifully in the stir fry filling and soak up the sauce wonderfully. Use whatever you have on hand.
- Ginger and Garlic: The flavor base that gives these lettuce cups their signature savory depth. Fresh is best if you have it, but jarred works in a pinch.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce: Using low sodium keeps the sauce flavorful without being overly salty. It’s worth the swap. If you don’t have this, just leave out the additional salt in the recipe.
- Honey: The natural sweetener that balances the soy sauce and ties the whole sauce together. No refined sugar needed.
- Bibb or Iceberg Lettuce: Both work great as wraps. Bibb lettuce is softer and more pliable, making it easier to wrap. Iceberg is crunchier and holds its shape a little better. Either way you really can’t go wrong!
*Check the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and measurements!
How to Make Stir-Fried Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Make the sauce. Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, and cilantro in a small bowl and set aside. Cook the onion. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add the bell pepper. Toss in the bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Build the flavor base. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Saute the chicken: Add the ground chicken or turkey and sauté for 7 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until cooked through.
- Add the sauce. Stir in the soy sauce mixture and salt and cook for 2 minutes until the juices evaporate and the filling is nicely coated.
- Serve and assemble. Spoon the filling into lettuce cups and serve immediately. To eat, just roll the lettuce around the filling and enjoy it like a little burrito.
Tips and Tricks
- Make the sauce first. Combining the soy sauce, honey, and cilantro before you start cooking means it’s ready to go the moment you need it. No scrambling mid-cook.
- Don’t rush the vegetables. Giving the onion, bell pepper, garlic, and ginger time to cook properly before adding the chicken. This helps build the flavor base of the whole dish.
- Extra Vegetables: Water chestnuts, shredded carrots, mushrooms, or snap peas all make great additions to the filling.
- Let the juices evaporate. Once you stir in the sauce, cook for a full 2 minutes until the liquid evaporates. This concentrates the flavor and keeps the lettuce cups from getting soggy.
- Serve immediately. These are best fresh. Set everything out and let the family assemble their own cups at the table for a fun, interactive dinner.
FAQ
What type of lettuce is best for lettuce wraps?
Bibb lettuce, butter lettuce, and iceberg lettuce work best because the leaves are sturdy and naturally cup-shaped. They hold the filling well and provide a crisp, refreshing crunch.
Can I make this stir-fry recipe gluten-free?
Yes! Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari in place of regular soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.
More 30-Minute Kid-Friendly Dinners
This stir-fried ground chicken lettuce cups recipe is one of those rare weeknight dinners that feels fun, fresh, and healthy all at once. I hope your family loves them as much as mine does! If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a comment and rating below!
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Stir-Fried Chicken in Lettuce Wraps
A quick and healthy weeknight dinner the whole family will love. Savory stir-fried ground chicken with fresh vegetables and a simple honey soy sauce, served in crispy lettuce wraps. Ready in under 30 minutes and fun for kids to assemble and eat with their hands!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (any color bell pepper works great)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 pound ground chicken (or ground turkey)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 bibb, butter or iceberg lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, and cilantro in a small bowl and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Toss in the bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the ground chicken or turkey and sauté for 7 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until cooked through.
- Stir in the soy sauce mixture and salt and cook for 2 minutes until the juices evaporate and the filling is nicely coated. This step is important. Letting the liquid evaporate concentrates the flavor and keeps your lettuce cups from getting soggy
- Spoon the filling into lettuce cups and serve immediately. To eat, just roll the lettuce around the filling and enjoy it like a little burrito.
Notes
- Lettuce Options: Bibb lettuce is softer and more pliable. Iceberg is crunchier and holds its shape better. Both work great.
- Don’t Skip the Evaporation Step: Cook the filling for a full 2 minutes after adding the sauce until the juices evaporate. This keeps the filling flavorful and your lettuce wraps from getting soggy.
- Storing Leftovers: Store the filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store lettuce separately.
- Serving Tip: The filling is delicious served over brown or white rice for a heartier meal or simple leftover lunch.
- Extra Vegetables: Water chestnuts, shredded carrots, mushrooms, or snap peas all make great additions to the filling.
Nutrition
Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 791mg | Potassium: 819mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1939IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg
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Really good! The sauce pulls everything together. I served it with farro.
This recipe is not gluten free if using the low sodium soy sauce. I used Kikkoman’s Gluten Free Soy Sauce and it was wonderful!
Looks super delicous!
[…] Stir-Fried Chicken in Lettuce Cups + jasmine rice with […]
are those nutrition facts accurate? With the honey onions and bell peppers 2g of sugar seems unlikely.
[…] Stir-Fried Chicken in Lettuce Cups – I’m cooking for our small group Wednesday, so hopefully they’ll eat these up! […]